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Gas and electric stoves use different energy sources to cook your food. But which one is cheaper in the long run? By analysing the initial appliance costs, energy costs over time, cooking efficiency, durability, and environmental impact, we can see which option wins for affordability.
Explore the cheapest cooking method and learn how you can make electric stove cooking more affordable.
Appliance Costs
The appliance costs for gas stoves and ovens can be higher than the initial cost for an electric model. However, you make up for whatever you pay upfront over time by lowering energy costs and using gas instead to power most of the cooking.
If your home does not already have gas lines installed, adding them will incur additional costs.
On the other hand, electric stoves don’t require any unique setup. They can be connected to any home with grid power (or even alternative power sources like EcoFlow Solar Generators or the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Portable Power Station).
Just calculate the kWh usage of your stove to ensure your power source can handle it. What you save upfront may translate to higher monthly energy costs, so keep that in mind.
Energy Costs
Natural gas is a cheaper commodity than electricity. By using natural gas power, you’ll not only have a more affordable cooking method, but you’ll also gain more precision over the temperature control of your stove and instant heat once turned on. Avoiding long preheat windows and unnecessarily high heat will also require less energy from a gas stove.
Electric stove costs will vary depending on the electricity rates in your area. Electric cooktops also take longer to heat up and cool down, creating unavoidable energy waste that you’ll ultimately pay for in your monthly electric bill.
However, there are ways to use an electric stove while mitigating these costs. You could, for example, hook it up to the EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max + 220W Solar Panel and use solar power to keep your electric stove running and save electricity.
Cooking Efficiency
Because gas stoves provide immediate heat upon turning on and allow you to control the temperature carefully, you can efficiently cook your food and save on cooking time, reducing energy costs. Natural gas cooking can be convenient and cost-efficient if you’re simmering, stir-frying, sauteeing, or frying.
Electric stoves offer supremely even heat distribution, but their lack of responsiveness can use excess energy and require longer cook times, creating higher monthly energy costs.
Durability and Maintenance
Gas appliances are known for their durability and long lifespans. They’re also relatively easy and affordable to repair and maintain compared to complex electric models. Glass cooktops, common with electric stoves, are prone to breaking and require costly repairs to fix.
Over time, a gas stovetop or oven will likely cost less to maintain than an electric version.
Environmental Impact
Natural gas is a finite resource, but it burns much cleaner than other fossil fuels, creating fewer emissions each time you cook. Plus, modern-day innovations have made these appliances even more efficient, further minimising their environmental damage.
Electric stoves create varying environmental impacts based on the source of their electricity. There are very few environmental benefits if the stove is hooked up to standard grid power, primarily from fossil fuels or coal.
However, if you can connect the stove to a renewable power source, such as the EcoFlow DELTA Pro + 400W Solar Panel, you can cook your food and power your home using clean, infinite energy from the sun.
Other Ways Gas vs. Electric Stoves Differ
The differences between gas and electric stoves extend beyond their costs. They also vary in safety, cleaning, home compatibility, and control.
- Safety – Gas stoves’ open flames should be used with caution. They also pose the risk of a dangerous leak of fumes, which is unlikely but possible. Electric stoves may also catch on fire, but they have a much lower risk because there’s no flame present.
- Cleaning – The flat and even surface of electric cooktops makes cleaning a breeze, while gas stoves require you to remove the grates and burners to clean effectively.
- Home Compatibility – As we mentioned earlier, not all homes are compatible with gas cooktops. Usually, a home without a line already connected will require an electric stove.
- Control – Gas stove tops are superior for a cooking experience that gives the chef more control. Flames are instant, and temperature can be adjusted in real-time. They are more responsive to advanced cooking needs. Electric stoves, however, require a slower preheat time and take longer to reflect changed temperatures.
Cost should be considered when determining which stove type is right for you. However, it can’t stop there. You’ll also need to determine if your home is connected to a natural gas line, how much work you want to put into cleaning it, how long the appliance will last, the environmental impact it creates, the level of control over your cooking and the safety of each model.
Frequently Asked Questions
Using a gas stove tends to be cheaper due to lower energy costs for natural gas, shorter cooking times, cheaper maintenance, and a longer lifetime. However, the most affordable option may be using free solar energy to power your electric stove.
Gas cooking is usually cheaper than electric cooking because it provides precise temperature control and instant heat, which shortens cooking times, reduces unnecessary power use, and reduces overall energy use. Natural gas is also usually cheaper than grid electricity.
Final Thoughts
While gas stoves may be cheaper to use than an electric stove connected to standard grid power, the most affordable way to cook is by connecting an electric stove to a renewable energy source, such as EcoFlow’s Solar Generators.
After the initial cost of the generator, you’ll quickly make back what you spent by utilising free solar energy to power all your cooking adventures.